Dupin tells G- to write him a check for that amount once he has done so, Dupin produces the letter from a writing-desk and an overjoyed G- races away to return it to the queen.ĭupin then explains to the narrator that the police did not take into account the psychology of their adversary in executing their search, drawing a parallel with a schoolboy he once knew who exploited his classmates' methods of thinking in order to win all their marbles at the game of Odds and Evens. A month later, the police still have nothing to show for their efforts and a frustrated G- declares that he would pay 50,000 francs to anyone who can help find the letter. Dupin suggests that G- and his men repeat their search and requests a description of the letter, which G- provides. The police have thoroughly searched D-'s home (referred to as a 'hotel' in keeping with Parisian word usage of the era) and person for the letter, including an exhaustive examination of the furniture, walls, and carpeting for any concealed hiding places, but have found nothing. Dupin agrees with two conclusions formed by G-: that the letter has not yet been made public, since doing so would lead to certain circumstances that have not yet occurred and that D- must have it close at hand, ready to disclose at a moment's notice. The thief is the unscrupulous Minister D-, who switched the letter for one of no importance during a visit with the queen and who has since been using its contents to blackmail her. G- brings to Dupin's attention the theft of a letter addressed to the queen from her boudoir. Auguste Dupin when they are joined by G-, prefect of the Paris police. The unnamed narrator is with the famous Parisian amateur detective C. It first appeared in the literary annual The Gift for 1845 (1844) and soon was reprinted in numerous journals and newspapers.

These stories are considered to be important early forerunners of the modern detective story. Auguste Dupin, the other two being ' The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and ' The Mystery of Marie Rogêt'.

It is the third of his three detective stories featuring the fictional C.

' The Purloined Letter' is a short story by American author Edgar Allan Poe. The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, 1845

Edgar allan poe the stolen letter